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He nodded to her loving, almost mothering statements. He saw softness in her. He didn't give her an "it's nothing" or a "you're welcome." Taikon merely nodded again, just once. He knew how important this was to her. He knew that Taktuq would be okay because Taki would take care of her and make sure everything was okay. He knew that Zephyr would be okay. He had Rowan, and Phillip. It was Taikon that everyone needed to worry about.
Everyone except Taikon.
The way was long, and rough, and full of memory. He needed to do this. Travelling was not the problem. Being away from her was the problem. He would miss her long touches, the way she grazed her body against him, that perfect, amazing space she had managed to fill beneath his chin, the place only she fit just right into. He would miss every ism, even the way she snored when she was really, really tired. After being around her every single day for weeks, after sleeping on her when he knew she might not get up, after knowing that she might well leave him because of what had happened with Zephyr, he could not just let her go. He couldn't just leave. This was not a casual event.
So as the howl's echo dissipated, and he did or did not hear answers from others, it was her he fixed himself upon. I... But the thought trailed, and he dipped his head and kept it close to her, for she was the answer to every struggle he had ever felt since leaving his homeland. She was it.
He turned away from her, and went off on his solitary mission. He had not missed the loneliness. After Takiyok faded into the distance, he furrowed his brow. The act was quick, for he couldn't bear to look her in those fiery orange eyes again.
I love you.

But the thought drifted into the wind, for he did not even have the courage to whisper it, not even to himself.